Flamenco Dictionary - B

baile Dance. Flamenco is a lively dance in constant evolution, but its basic characteristics seem to have taken form between 1869 and 1929, the period known as the golden age of flamenco. The basis of flamenco dancing is that it is intricately connected to the guitar, an indispensable instrument in flamenco.

bajañí The name that a guitar receives in the "jerga caló", language of the gypsies. In some cases it is also denominated "bajandí".

bambera A type of Flamenco song. It's "copla" is composed of four eight syllable verses, although sometimes a different scheme is used. It is a folk or traditional song with flamenco influences.

barbero I. The style of holding the guitar, customary of old guitarists. The legs are uncrossed and the instrument rests on the right leg and is placed diagonally across the body. II. Nick name of a guitarist from Cádiz, Paco el Barber, student of the maestro Patiño, who along with Paco el de Lucena and Antonio Reina made up the first generation of flamenco guitarists, to which there is reference.

base rítmica Rhythmic points on which the beat supports itself, normally associated with a series of chords that define the style.

bemol Name given to a note that is a half tone below its normal tone. In the guitar the flats are performed by executing the chord on the fret prior to that normally used.

binario Subdivision of the beat in which in each part of the crotchet is divided in to two quavers. This is the case of three/four.

blancas Colloquial name given by guitarists, to the first three strings on the guitar, also know as primas.

blandura Characteristic of guitars whose normal tension on the guitar while tuned is soft. This type of instrument allows the player to economise on the execution of 'pulsaciones', since it has better exit. However there are guitarists who prefer hard guitars in order to better control the clarity of their playing.

boca Main hole in the harmonic lid where the sound comes out from. It isn't convenient to play over it, since this takes sonority from the instrument.

bordonazo Tap of the thumb exercised on the bass string which provokes a vibration, unpleasant to the ear.

bordón Sixth and last string, the thickest of all, normally made of nylon covered in intertwined metal, a substitute to the old cat gut. Generally this name has been extended to defuse the three top strings, which are usually called bass strings.

borrosa The "alegría" which is executed in C major /G major as are the chords of base rhythm. It is what is called "tono de caracoles" in flamenco.

bulería por soleá A type of Flamenco song. It is a variation of the "bulería" whose rhythm is closer to that of the "soleá".

bulerías Guitar playing born from the "soleá", with a more lively rhythm on a beat of normally six/eight, although it can be played as a three/four. Tonally there are many variations. In Jerez it is usually played in-between (A major/ B flat), in Cádiz in major tones (A major/E major) and there also a version in A minor /E major. Depending on the tone of the singer or the melodic necessities, the tones can vary in an exercise of transport, but always within the same tonal cadence.